The Best Night Vision Goggles For UFO Sightings
This article is more than 2 years old
It was a quiet night in San Antonio when I saw my first UFO. I’ve been hooked ever since, spending my nights alone looking up at the night sky. But whether you’re tracking flying saucers on the down low like me or instagramming every satellite you see, you’ll need a great set of UFO spotting night-vision goggles. We’ve got you covered. I’ve been testing night-vision googles day and night (well OK just at night) and now I’m ready to tell you what the best ones were like.
ATN PVS7-3 Night Vision Goggles
At a cost of over $3000, the ATN PVS7-3 Night Vision Goggles are the most expensive tech on this list. Maybe that higher price point puts them out of reach for you, but these babies are military grade. You get what you pay for.
First there’s the way they look, which is utterly badass. If you want that Splinter Cell, armed forces styling then you can’t do better than these. Plus, while they may look large and bulky these were actually very comfortable to wear. Wear them I did, and often, making full use of the included strap which lets you comfortably affix the ATN goggles to your head, keeping your hands free. They’re so light weight my neck was unbothered even carrying their extra bulk. I found them very comfortable to wear.
When it comes to quality the ATN PVS7-3 Night Vision Goggles are top of the line. Looking at the world through them turns night into day. I could see clearly up to forty feet in front of me, incredible in the inky black depths I like to crawl around in when alien-hunting.
Focusing the image can be a little daunting, since you have to do it manually. Doing anything manually when you’re paying this much for it is a bit disappointing. Still, when you’re out there looking for E.T. it’s better to have total control, you never know what kind of conditions you might end up in and auto focus can be slower. The ATN PVS7-3 gives you the power to adjust on the fly.
This is an incredible set of night vision goggles for UFO watching or really anything at all, if you can afford them.
Pros:
- Amazing clarity
- Light weight
- Comfortable to wear
- High quality
- Military grade!
Cons:
- They cost over 3 grand
- Auto focusing may not be something everyone is ok with
Sightmark Digital Ranger 5×42 Digital Night Vision
Judged by looks alone the Sightmark Digital Ranger 5×42 does not impress. Looks can be deceiving. Once I attached the strap and had them hanging around my neck, I was pleased with how light they are. Even wearing them for hours was no burden at all. Handling them was a pleasure, thanks to a thin and easy to hold body that leaves you feeling focused and in control. All they’re really missing is a head-strap.
When it comes to functionality I was blown away. Each lens has its own individual IR illuminator, resulting in crystal clear images. No matter the light level, whether its pitch black dark or a moonlit night, the Sightmark Digital Ranger delivers. This ability to function in different light levels is particularly important to UFO hunters who never know where or when they’ll end up tracking aliens.
As an added bonus, if you have the right additional equipment, the Sightmark Digital Ranger allows you to save images and make video recordings. Vital if you’re going to deliver on your dreams of presenting the world with proof that aliens have landed.
These goggles were so much fun and so easy to use that they may end up being my strategic night-maneuvers mainstay. Given the price, which is under $500, you’ll want them too.
Pros:
- Amazing quality
- Work in all kinds of conditions
- Sturdy feel
- Comes with a car and AC adapter
Cons:
- Cold have come with a head strap
- Recording is cool, but it does require extra stuff
Night Owl iGEN 20/20 Day/Night Vision Monocular (3x)
The Night Owl iGEN 20/20 Day/Night Vision Monocular is a monocular night vision scope and one that I had a lot of fun with. You might find it tough to carry though, as there is no head or neck strap included.
Despite some transportation awkwardness the Night Owl is very easy to use. The way it auto adjusted based on lighting conditions particularly impressed me. It worked so well that I actually did spot something with it, darting strangely across the night sky. Alien in origin? Maybe. My uncertainty isn’t the Night Owl’s fault though, there was no fuzziness or lack of clarity in the images it produced.
Ultimately this entry resembles more of a scope than a pair of night goggles, and that wasn’t for me. Still, they are incredibly user friendly and they require very little expertise to operate. You won’t have to adjust a bunch of settings to make sure you always have the best image possible in front of your eyes while using the Night Owl. If you’re cool with not having an actual set of goggles then these, especially at their low $300 price point, are well worth considering.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Easy to use
- Well made
- Clear images
Cons:
- They are not goggles!
- Not ideal if you do not like scopes
Armasight Nyx7-ID Gen 2+ Night Vision Goggles
The Armasight Nyx7-ID Gen 2+ has a cool factor unmatched by any of the other night vision goggles on this list. You’ll look like you mean business, as long as you’re wearing these. They’re made to be mounted on your head, and once perched there, they’re easily adjustable. They’re so adjustable, they can even fit over a helmet or hat if you’re trying to cover up a pesky bald spot. Sure they look complicated, but the Aramasight Nyx7 is easy to put on and comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time.
They’ve put a lot of effort into these and the build quality of the Armasight product is evident from the moment you touch them. They deliver a real wide angle view with perfect image clarity. I was happy with how far ahead I could see and best of all these have a bright light shut off. That shut off came in handy for me when some guy in a truck drove unnecessarily close.
Thanks to the head mount these are by far the most comfortable to wear goggles on this list. A must for the long hours necessary for UFO spotting. It also helps that you can keep them on your head and flip them up. Not only does doing that feel cool, it means you can take them off your eyes but still have them ready to flip down in front of your vision in case a martian escapes into the shadows. Other night vision goggles must be removed from your head entirely, if you don’t want to use them. Messing around with putting them on and taking them off wastes precious time.
Costing over a thousand dollars means the Armasight is extremely pricey, but these are the latest and greatest in night vision goggles. You get what you pay for. These are an amazing way to sneak around in the dark.
Pros:
- Awesome design
- Comfortable to wear
- Very clear
- Auto bright light shut off
Cons:
- Cost is pretty high
- Can take a little time to set up perfectly
What To Watch For When Buying Binoculars To Watch UFO’s
Now that we’ve looked at all four night vision goggles, let’s review some of the basics you’ll need in any good goggle purchase.
Battery Life: We’re not just talking about how long will the batteries last, but what kind of batteries do the goggles need. Some require regular AA batteries others have specialized built in lithium batteries.
Are They Head Mountable?: This may not be an issue for everyone, but I always want to know if I can actually wear the goggles on my head and if they come with a strap to do so.
FPS: Nope not first person shooter, but frames per second. The higher the frames per second the better the goggles…. in theory. I find that 15 is fine for me, but many other people swear by 30.
What Are The Best Night Vision Goggles For UFO Watching
While the first set, the ATN PVS7-3 were undeniably incredible, I have to admit their price point puts them out of reach for most people. But, if money is not an issue then by all means go for the ATN PVS7-3 Night Vision Goggles. They’re built as tough as a tank but also still light weight, and it delivers the clearest possible images.
If you’re looking for the best buy though, then it is the Sightmark Digital Ranger 5×42 Digital Night Vision. I had a lot of fun with these, found them comfortable to wear and easy to adjust in all light conditions. You get a lot for the price with theses. So while you can’t go wrong with any of the night vision goggles on this list, if I had to pick just one I’d go with the Sightmark Digital Ranger 5×42 Digital Night Vision Goggles.
